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Next Board Meeting: Thursday March 14, 2013

The Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley would like to take a moment and let you know about a special opportunity to take our work even further in 2013. If you took a distribution from your IRA in December 2012, you may be eligible to make a special gift to the Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley.

Congress passed legislation to extend the IRA charitable deduction rollover for 2012 and 2013. The law allows individuals who are 70½ years and older to make special gifts to charity! Individuals who took a taxable distribution from their IRA in December 2012 can avoid taxes on the distribution by making a gift to a charity such as the Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley in January 2013.

For any questions, please contact the eye bank at 215-563-1679.

Raised in Belleville, New Jersey Mel attended Belleville High School before attending Rutgers University, majoring in Accounting. After graduation, Mel worked as a banker, first for First National State Bank of New Jersey in Newark and then at Hudson City Savings Bank for 33 years.

Mel was first introduced to the Lions when his brother asked if he could help them set up for an event. After attending more functions (and always setting up before and cleaning up after!), Mel figured he might as well become a full member and joined the Toms River Lions Club in October 1973. In his forty years as a Lion, Mel has held many different leadership positions including: Past District Governor, Cabinet Secretary and Treasurer, Charitable Foundation Officer, Council Chair, President of the Past District Governor's Association, Global Membership Leader for Multiple District 16, LCIF Coordinator for Multiple District 16 and President of the Lions Eye Research Foundation. Additionally, Mel has been treasurer of the Sight for Handicapped Foundation for Ocean County since it began in 1976.

When Mel was asked if he was interested in becoming a trustee for the Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley in 2002, he did not hesitate to accept. He knew eye diseases were a problem and wanted to be a part of something that helped people who struggled with their sight. "Plus," he jokingly added. "Lions can't seem to say no to volunteer opportunities!"

He served as Secretary/Treasurer for six years and currently serves as the Co-Chairman of the Endowment Committee. He has always been passionate about the Endowment Fund because "I'm a person to look forward, and without the endowment as the eye bank's cushion, we might not be here for the future. The Endowment is about making sure we can continue to fulfill our mission statement."

Out of all of the events, Mel says he enjoys the Gift of Sight Golf Tournament and the Annual Polgar Brunch best because people outside of the eye bank can come out for the day.  "Part of our mission statement is education, so we should take advantage of any opportunity to spread the word about the eye bank."

Renovations have finished at the Lions Eye Bank, as our conference room transformed to build an office and expand the lab. With funds from a Lions Club International Foundation grant, we were able to complete construction and purchase new machines which brings us to the forefront of eye banking. Check out some of our pictures and look out for more in this year's edition of forSight!

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